North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Allied Command Operations
March 24, 2015
JFC Brunssum Commander visits NATO forces in Latvia
BRUNSSUM, The Netherlands: The Commander of Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum, General Hans-Lothar Domrőse, was on hand to commemorate the opening of Operation Summer Shield in Latvia on Sunday, 22 March 2015. At the same time, Domrőse met up with U.S. soldiers taking part in Dragoon Ride.
At the Adazi Military Base, the Commander visited and thanked the troops participating in Operation Summer Shield. Summer Shield is a Latvian-led exercise which includes military personnel from the U.S., U.K., Canada, Germany, Lithuania and Luxembourg. The exercise is being held in two phases. The first phase includes cross training and live fire exercises while the second phase includes defensive operations with integration of indirect fire and close air support.
General Domrőse then went to Riga, where he met up with dozens of U.S. military vehicles and hundreds of soldiers participating in Dragoon Ride. Dragoon Ride is a road march comprised of soldiers and equipment from the U.S. Army’s 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment. The march started in Estonia on 21 March and is part of an 1,800 kilometre journey through six nations back to their home base in Vilseck, Germany. The march marks the first time NATO has demonstrated its ability to move troops across its Eastern boundary.
“The Dragoon Ride shows NATO’s strength and flexibility to freely move our forces wherever and whenever they are needed,” said General Domrőse. “This movement of U.S. Army vehicles and hundreds of soldiers is great training among Allies that builds cooperation, interoperability and demonstrates our commitment to collective defence in the region.” The general also explained to local media representatives that the movement of U.S. Army equipment and personnel back to Germany is not a withdrawal of U.S. forces but rather a rotation of forces that maintain a constant presence in the Baltic States to reassure Allies in the region.
After departing Riga, the convoy continues to Lithuania and Poland where additional convoys of vehicles and personnel join the march that will eventually include approximately 60 Strykers and 40 other vehicles. All three convoys will meet in the Czech Republic and then drive the final leg of the journey together back to Germany on 1 April.
Dragoon Ride is also being supported by U.S. Apache and Blackhawk helicopters as well as NATO jets that provide aerial reconnaissance and observation for the ground forces movement.
Story by JFC Brunssum Public Affairs Office
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